After eight years of Black Rock’s premier event running in the fall, the Bully Hill Nationals is now an early-season event, and it is already time to get down to business.

Beginning Thursday with an open practice session, the 9th Annual Bully Hill Vineyards NY Sprint Nationals presented by S.P. Wilson and Budweiser will get underway for the Greatest 360-Sprint Race New York State Has Ever Seen.

This will be just the fourth 360-sprint race this year in New York State, so most of the regional teams have their equipment primed and ready to go to take their slice of the over $40,000 up for grabs on Friday and Saturday.

While most of the competitors will be running one of their first events of the year, there is a group of competitors that have done plenty of racing already in 2007. With this event being the first ever ASCS National Tour event in the Northeast, it will be the first opportunity for fans to see the talent that other areas of the country have to offer.

Gary Wright is white hot right now and leads the talented field into the 4/10-mile. He swept the most recent weekend of ASCoT action and currently leads the point standings, chasing after his fourth straight ASCS Championship.

Wayne Johnson got off to hot start early in the year and has refused to slow down so far. The Oklahoma competitor is currently 2nd in ASCS Points and has won an ASCS Championship to his credit in 2000.

After a surprisingly slow start, Jason Johnson is finally hitting his form of 2006, as he is now up to 3rd in the ASCoT Standings. The “Cajun Sensation” was the North American 360 Driver of the Year in 2006 and will need a solid weekend at Black Rock to try and reclaim that title this season.

Past ASCS Champions Travis Rilat and Darren Stewart, along with rookies Foster Landon, Andy Shouse and Chris Schmelzle are among some of the names from ASCoT That will be on hand for this two-race weekend in Yates County.

Kenny Adams is also expected to be in attendance. The Malabar, FL hot shoe was supposed to attend the event in 2004 but extenuating circumstances prevented him back then, he’ll try again this weekend.

And then there are all the competitors from the Northeast…

Chuck Hebing is leading the strong local contingent into Dundee this weekend. “Cobra” has won both ASCS Patriot events so far this year and will try to win his fourth career event at Black Rock.

Lance Yonge was at BRS last Friday testing his No. 17J. Yonge has only one 360-sprint win at his home track, but has arguably more laps around the speedway than any other competitor that will be in the field this weekend.

Bryan Howland has yet to capture a 360-sprint win at Black Rock, but should definitely be contender come Friday.

Alain Bergeron nearly became the first driver from Quebec to win a National event at the Bully Hill Nationals last year. The 2006 ESS Champion should be a factor again.

George Suprick is the current point leader of the newly formed ASCS Mid-Atlantic Region and is one of the best sprint car drivers in Black Rock Speedway’s rich history. He won the only track championship in 2004, as well as the ASCS Patriot Championship that year. He is also the 2000 and 2001 Bully Hill Nationals Champion.

All of the rest of the stars that New York, Pennsylvania, New England and Canada have to offer will together help make the edition of the Bully Hill Vineyards Fall Sprint Nationals one that you will never want to forget.

Remember that Thursday is an open practice for competitors with a party in the pits after the races and music throughout the night. All of the action is FREE for grandstand admission, with National Parts Peddler presenting the event.

Racing action gets under way Friday at 6:45 p.m. for the preliminary feature program. Along with the ASCS racing, there will also be a number of regular classes running including the Freedom Village USA Super Stocks, Regional Truck Pro Trucks, Street Stocks, Signs Plus of Kanona 4-Cylinders and Black Rock Bandits. General Admission is just $14.

Saturday is a fan of winged things dream come true. Joining the $4,000-to-win sprint event will be the Central New York Mini Sprints, New York Modified Midgets and Interstate Micro Sprints. Family packs for 2 adults and 4 children are just $49.